1st Ever Paper Recycling Workshop for Youths Held in Abuja, Nigeria

The first important step towards a healthier world is environmental education as only knowledge can trigger change in behavior. In Nigeria everywhere you look you see one thing: paper. From posters and notebooks to cardboard boxes and magazines, paper is part of our everyday lives. Paper takes up over 40% of our waste stream, making it the top material that we throw away.

"AWARENESS TO ACTION" was the theme of this Year 1st Paper Recycling Workshop for youths in Abuja under the "Porject A2A Naija Recycling Project" the project  is an education program designed to involve young people aged 18-25 in local environmental service projects like tree planting and home-made paper recycling. The Project is in collaboration with EarthRISE Nigeria, GCAP Nigeria and funded by Dekeyser&Friends Foundation.

The  One-day Low Carbon Recycling Workshop for was held on  17th of Sept. 2010 at the conference room of actionaid Nigeria. The event brought youth between the ages of 18 - 35 years to learn about the environment and what youth can do to protect our planet. The event was also an opportunty to join GCAP clebrate the "stand-up" global event to make the MDG global campaign with the local theme "Make our Money work for us"  There were sessions on "Nature Talk" using the Earth Charter Principles , "My Environment: My Role, My Responsibility and a group work.  Participant also hands-on session on paper recycling.

The project aims to be select (via application) a few interested participants to move to recycling of papers to finished product (10 beneficiaries) the selected participants will be supported with most of the equipment to start.The recycled papers will used to produce greeting cards, Picture frames etc..(they too are allowed to be creative). Most people in Nigeria need greetings cards. Beneficiaries will also have the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, get connected inspired and involved. The first Recycled product will be exhibited and sold on 10/10/10 during the 350Naija Work Party.